>> leon panetta is never fully checked out. there's nothing going unsecure. there's no lapse in power structure at the pentagon. >> panetta still gets daily briefings, updates on the war in afghanistan and signs deployment orders but president obama wants the new guy. >> i'm still presiding over a war in afghanistan and i need a secretary of defense. >> but if hagel gets confirmed, can he work with congress after the bruising nomination fight? >> he comes in to office lacking political capital and that's exactly what you need as a secretary of defense. >> so if panetta is confirmed, one of the first decisions he may have to make is how to deal with military spending cuts if there is no budget deal with congress and nothing upsets congress more than cuts in spending in their own home states. so the beginning of the bumpy ride for chuck hagel may happen as soon as he's confirmed, if he is confirmed. jim? >> barbara starr at the pentagon, thank you. and we now can take you out to chicago where president obama is getting started with his remarks. he is in his hom